Sunday, July 31, 2016

Commentary To Tehillim Chapter 3

Tehillim Chapter 3

Based on Rav Charlap's commentary: 

א מזמור לדוד בברחו מפני אבשלום בנו ב יהוה מה רבו צרי רבים קמים עלי ג רבים אמרים לנפשי אין ישועתה לו באלהים סלה ד ואתה יהוה מגן בעדי כבודי ומרים ראשי ה קולי אל יהוה אקרא ויענני מהר קדשו סלה ו אני שכבתי ואישנה הקיצותי כי יהוה יסמכני ז לא אירא מרבבות עם אשר סביב שתו עלי ח קומה יהוה הושיעני אלהי כי הכית את כל איבי לחי שני רשעים שברת ט ליהוה הישועה על עמך ברכתך סלה


1. Hashem, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!

He is feeling the pain of the שכינה as if Hashem Himself is saying "How many are my foes". For when one fights against Hashem's chosen it is as he is fighting against Hashem Himself.

2. Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.”

To add insult to injury they are saying that Hashem is not with Dovid, as if they are representing Hashem and He is on their side...


3 But you, Hashem, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.

But it is not true. Hashem really IS with me. He will save me and lift my head high in order to show that it is He who shields me.

4 I call out to Hashem,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.

Since I am calling out to Hashem - and for the sake of His glory, he will surely answer me. [Having Bitachon often brings about the desired result]. His holy mountain is Har Habayis which was already holy in the time of Yaakov as we see from Chazal.

5 I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because Hashem sustains me.

I am so sure that Hashem will help me that I can calmly go to sleep in my bed. 

6 I will not fear though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.

I am completely undaunted [fearless] despite the masses that surround me.

7 Arise, Hashem!
Deliver me, my God!
You have already struck all my enemies on the jaw;
broken the teeth of the wicked.

I am not worried about my enemies. They are already disposed of in my mind. All that concerns me is that the glory of Hashem should be revealed. 

8 The salvation is to Hashem.
May your blessing be on your people.

Hashem's salvation is revealed when He redeems His people. Our concern is that He should be [כביכול] saved. This is accomplished when we are saved and His glory is revealed.  

Daas Mikra [see there] notes that this perek is broken up into 3 sections. First the צרה, then the expressions of Bitachon, then the salvation.